Ep 106: Finding Joy While Chronically Ill w/ Dr. Brentia Caldwell-Smith Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS, CPCS

FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE! WOOO! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026!⁠⁠ ⁠REGISTER HERE!⁠⁠SIGN UP FOR DESTINY'S NEXT LIVE WORKSHOP⁠⁠→ Upcoming Workshops!⁠JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness→ ⁠⁠⁠Join Welcome To The Waiting Room⁠⁠⁠ (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments)Episode summary:In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brentia Caldwell-Smith, founder of the UP Center and a licensed professional counselor who specializes in chronic illness navigation. We discuss disenfranchised grief—the kind of loss that comes with chronic illness that people don't always recognize or validate—and explore how cultural expectations around strength, religion, and perseverance can complicate the healing process. Dr. Brentia shares her personal experience living with lupus and interstitial lung disease, and we talk about the importance of building community, finding joy in the midst of uncertainty, and making your life work for you even when it looks different than you expected. This conversation is full of practical wisdom about connecting with others, prioritizing your own needs, and refusing to let illness take away your ability to have fun and live fully.MEET DESTINY:⁠ ⁠Website⁠⁠ /⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ /⁠ ⁠BlueSky⁠⁠ /⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ /⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠MEET GUEST: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠ / Instagram⁠→ ⁠READ THE BLOG FOR THIS EPISODE⁠ASK DESTINY ANYTHING→ ⁠⁠Submit your questions here⁠⁠FOR YOU, OUR PODCAST LISTENERS:JOIN DESTINY’S MEMBERSHIP - for folks with chronic pain & illness→ ⁠⁠⁠Join Welcome To The Waiting Room⁠⁠⁠ (ongoing support for staying regulated while living with chronic illness - This does not replace therapy, but it’s a great addition to your regular therapy appointments)FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:🏢 WE’RE HOSTING A CONFERENCE! WOOO! It’ll be an IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL event in Atlanta, GA, on MARCH 6&7, 2026!⁠ ⁠REGISTER HERE!⁠🛋️ ⁠⁠Join The Mastermind!⁠⁠ (monthly business and clinical consultation calls for medical professionals specializing in working with patients with chronic illnesses)🧭 Get Your Client Roadmap For Navigating Complex Trauma and Chronic Illness (specifically for mental health therapists) (COMING SOON-⁠ ⁠sign up for the waitlist⁠⁠)WANT TO SAY THANKS - Reviews tell the app, “hey, people like this! Show it in the algorithm to more people!” :)💜 ⁠⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠🟢 ⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify⁠⁠Disclaimer: Everything we talk about here is just meant to be general education and information. It's not intended as personal mental health or medical advice. If you have any questions related to your unique circumstances, please contact a licensed therapist or medical professional in your state of residence.